Novel arylethene-sulfonamides

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to novel aryl-ethene-sulfonamides and their use as active ingredients in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions. The invention also concerns related aspects including processes for the preparation of the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more of those compounds and especially their use as endothelin receptor antagonists.

[0001] The present invention relates to novel arylethene-sulfonamides of the general formula I and their use as active ingredients in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions. The invention also concerns related aspects including processes for the preparation of the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more compounds of the general formula I and especially their use as endothelin antagonists.

[0002] Endothelins (ET-1, ET-2, and ET-3) are 21-amino acid peptides produced and active in almost all tissues (Yanagisawa M et al.: Nature (1988) 332:411). Endothelins are potent vasoconstrictors and important mediators of cardiac, renal, endocrine and immune functions (McMillen M A et al.: J Am Coil Surg (1995) 180:621). They participate in bronchoconstriction and regulate neurotransmitter release, activation of inflammatory cells, fibrosis, cell proliferation and cell differentiation (Rubanyi G M et al.: Pharmacol Rev (1994) 46:328).

[0003] Two endothelin receptors have been cloned and characterized in mammals (ET_(A), ET_(B)) (Arai H et al.: Nature (1990) 348:730; Sakurai T et al.: Nature (1990) 348:732). The ET_(A) receptor is characterized by higher affinity for ET-1 and ET-2 than for ET-3. It is predominant in vascular smooth muscle cells and mediates vasoconstricting and proliferative responses (Ohlstein E H et al.: Drug Dev Res (1993) 29:108). In contrast, the ET_(B) receptor has equivalent affinity for the 3 endothelin isopeptides and binds the linear form of endothelin, tetra-ala-endothelin, and sarafotoxin S6C (Ogawa Y et al.: BBRC (1991) 178:248). This receptor is located in the vascular endothelium and smooth muscles, and is also particularly abundant in lung and brain. The ET_(B) receptor from endothelial cells mediates transient vasodilator responses to ET-1 and ET-3 through the release of nitric oxide and/or prostacyclin whereas the ET_(B) receptor from smooth muscle cells exerts vasoconstricting actions (Sumner M J et al.: Brit J Pharmacol (1992) 107:858). ET_(A) and ET_(B) receptors are highly similar in structure and belong to the superfamily of G-protein coupled receptors.

[0004] A pathophysiological role has been suggested for ET-1 in view of its increased plasma and tissue levels in several disease states such as hypertension, sepsis, atherosclerosis, acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, renal failure, migraine and asthma. As a consequence, endothelin receptor antagonists have been studied extensively as potential therapeutic agents. Endothelin receptor antagonists have demonstrated preclinical and/or clinical efficacy in various diseases such as cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage, heart failure, pulmonary and systemic hypertension, neurogenic inflammation, renal failure and myocardial infarction.

[0005] Today, no endothelin receptor antagonist is marketed yet, several are in clinical trials. However, these molecules possess a number of weaknesses such as complex synthesis, low solubility, high molecular weight, poor pharmacokinetics, or safety problems (e.g. liver enzyme increases).

[0006] The inhibitory activity of the compounds of general formula I on endothelin receptors can be demonstrated using the test procedures described hereinafter:

[0007] For the evaluation of the potency and efficacy of the compounds of the general formula I the following tests were used:

[0008] 1) Inhibition of Endothelin Binding to Membranes from CHO Cells Carrying Human ET Receptors

[0009] For competition binding studies, membranes of CHO cells expressing human recombinant ET_(A) or ET_(B) receptors were used. Microsomal membranes from recombinant CHO cells were prepared and the binding assay made as previously described (Breu V., et al, FEBS Lett 1993; 334:210).

[0010] The assay was performed in 200 uL 50 mM Tris/HCl buffer, pH 7.4, including 25 mM MnCl₂, 1 mM EDTA and 0.5% (w/v) BSA in polypropylene microtiter plates. Membranes containing 0.5 ug protein were incubated for 2 h at 20° C. with 8 pM [¹²⁵I ]ET-1 (4000 cpm) and increasing concentrations of unlabelled antagonists. Maximum and minimum binding were estimated in samples without and with 100 nM ET-1, respectively. After 2 h, the membranes were filtered on filterplates containing GF/C filters (Unifilterplates from Canberra Packard S.A. Zurich, Switzerland). To each well, 50 uL of scintillation cocktail was added (MicroScint 20, Canberra Packard S.A. Zürich, Switzerland) and the filter plates counted in a microplate counter (TopCount, Canberra Packard S.A. Zurich, Switzerland).

[0011] All the test compounds were dissolved, diluted and added in DMSO. The assay was run in the presence of 2.5% DMSO which was found not to interfere significantly with the binding. IC₅₀ was calculated as the concentration of antagonist inhibiting 50% of the specific binding of ET-1. For reference compounds, the following IC₅₀ values were found: ET_(A) cells: 0.075 nM (n=8) for ET-1 and 118 nM (n=8) for ET-3; ET_(B) cells: 0.067 nM (n=8) for ET-1 and 0.092 nM (n=3) for ET-3 .

[0012] The IC₅₀ values obtained with compounds of general formula I are given in Table 1. TABLE 1 IC₅₀[nM] Compound of Example ET_(A) ET_(B) Example 1 1.8 569 Example 2 25.4 1835 Example 3 46.3 722 Example 6 82.4 1351 Example 13 28.7 3989 Example 4 273.4 8605 Example 11 18.53 264.2 Example 12 52.1 532 Example 5 12.8 129.5 Example 14 4.75 841 Example 15 17.98 2129 Example 16 62.2 1125 Example 21 14.67 749 Example 23 8.2 270 Example 24 21.7 657 Example 27 11.5 193 Example 30 41.8 9075 Example 36 20 3392 Example 40 6.2 629 Example 41 5.4 1781 Example 43 4.6 408 Example 45 19.3 332 Example 46 41.7 541 Example 47 7.04 752 Example 48 10.6 832 Example 49 27.2 4143 Example 50 30.99 6894 Example 51 4.56 173 Example 52 7.5 1487 Example 53 21 1362 Example 54 14 183 Example 58 24 277 Example 60 30 558 Example 62 58 4905 Example 65 17 2517 Example 67 7.8 752 Example 69 6 1647 Example 70 16 258 Example 71 17 507 Example 72 9 2385 Example 73 7.6 4757 Example 74 7.8 3526 Example 75 17.6 >10000 Example 80 19.7 2569 Example 83 27.5 7589 Example 85 3.8 238 Example 86 4.6 193 Example 87 3.9 439 Example 88 6 496 Example 89 4.6 1221 Example 90 4.3 336 Example 92 20 7470 Example 95 33 8391 Example 101 30.7 8682 Example 104 54 8336 Example 107 8.5 4645 Example 109 39 >10000 Example 113 14.7 >10000 Example 114 18.4 3876 Example 116 24.9 >10000 Example 117 7.9 4339 Example 118 9.8 1005 Example 119 55 735 Example 120 38.7 1630 Example 124 33.2 309 Example 125 6.7 2700 Example 126 9 3644 Example 127 14.2 2755 Example 132 5.7 1660 Example 133 8.2 1770 Example 134 6.3 4895 Example 138 4.4 1335 Example 139 9.8 1688 Example 140 12.5 1090 Example 144 10 3059 Example 145 9.1 2385 Example 146 7.8 3526 Example 147 7.6 4757 Example 152 43.3 4822 Example 157 21.7 4505 Example 158 12.1 1259 Example 159 7.3 2277 Example 160 12.9 757 Example 164 10 1564 Example 166 15 756 Example 173 4.2 976 Example 174 6.7 1010 Example 175 4.7 499 Example 176 4.1 1079 Example 177 5.5 363 Example 178 5 671 Example 179 9 699 Example 180 7.4 1027 Example 181 7.1 1977 Example 182 16.7 1405 Example 193 2.6 537 Example 194 7.8 627 Example 195 6 293 Example 196 4.7 427 Example 197 5 220 Example 198 7.9 595 Example 202 2.4 349 Example 203 3.4 249 Example 204 3.3 138 Example 211 38 2638 Example 214 39 3942 Example 222 41 506 Example 225 5.2 830 Example 226 15.4 1547 Example 227 4.3 145 Example 228 14.5 3911 Example 230 12.3 937 Example 232 10 290 Example 240 26 3126

[0013] 2) Inhibition of Endothelin-Induced Contractions on Isolated Rat Aortic Rings (ET_(A) Receptors) and Rat Tracheal Rings (ET_(B) Receptors):

[0014] The functional inhibitory potency of the endothelin antagonists was assessed by their inhibition of the contraction induced by endothelin-1 on rat aortic rings (ET_(A) receptors) and of the contraction induced by sarafotoxin S6c on rat tracheal rings (ET_(B) receptors). Adult Wistar rats were anesthetized and exsanguinated. The thoracic aorta or trachea were excised, dissected and cut in 3-5 mm rings. The endothelium/epithelium was removed by gentle rubbing of the intimal surface. Each ring was suspended in a 10 ml isolated organ bath filled with Krebs-Henseleit solution (in mM; NaCl 115, KCl 4.7, MgSO₄ 1.2, KH₂PO₄ 1.5, NaHCO₃ 25, CaCl₂ 2.5, glucose 10) kept at 370° and gassed with 95% O₂ and 5% CO₂. The rings were connected to force transducers and isometric tension was recorded (EMKA Technologies SA, Paris, France). The rings were stretched to a resting tension of 3 g (aorta) or 2 g (trachea). Cumulative doses of ET-1 (aorta) or sarafotoxin S6c (trachea) were added after a 10 min incubation with the test compound or its vehicle. The functional inhibitory potency of the test compound was assessed by calculating the concentration ratio, i.e. the shift to the right of the EC₅₀ induced by different concentrations of test compound. EC₅₀ is the concentration of endothelin needed to get a half-maximal contraction, pA₂ is the negative logarithm of the antagonist concentration which induces a two-fold shift in the EC₅₀ value. The pA₂ values obtained with compounds of formula I are given in Table 2. TABLE 2 pA₂ value Compound of Example ET_(A) ET_(B) Example 1 8.73 7.09 Example 14 8.67 Example 15 7.57 Example 43 9.07 Example 67 9.5 Example 80 8.35 5.21 Example 85 9.07 Example 92 7.91 Example 140 8.73 Example 152 7.69 6.04 Example 173 8.83 7.1 Example 174 7.88 Example 193 8.6 6.9 Example 194 7.5 6.5 Example 195 8.04 Example 196 7.68 Example 209 6.58 Example 211 7.61 6.65

[0015] Because of their ability to inhibit the endothelin binding, the described compounds can be used for treatment of diseases which are associated with an increase in vasoconstriction, proliferation or inflammation due to endothelin. Examples of such diseases are hypertension, coronary diseases, cardiac insufficiency, renal and myocardial ischemia, renal failure, cerebral ischemia, dementia, migraine, subarachnoidal hemorrhage, Raynaud's syndrome, portal hypertension and pulmonary hypertension. They can also be used for atherosclerosis, prevention of restenosis after balloon or stent angioplasty, inflammation, stomach and duodenal ulcer, cancer, prostatic hypertrophy, erectile dysfunction, hearing loss, amaurosis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, gram negative septicemia, shock, sickle cell anemia, glomerulonephritis, renal colic, glaucoma, therapy and prophylaxis of diabetic complications, complications of vascular or cardiac surgery or after organ transplantation, complications of cyclosporin treatment, pain as well as other diseases presently known to be related to endothelin.

[0016] The compounds can be administered orally, rectally, parenterally, e.g. by intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intrathecal or transdermal administration or sublingually or as ophthalmic preparation or administered as aerosol. Examples of applications are capsules, tablets, orally administered suspensions or solutions, suppositories, injections, eye-drops, ointments or aerosols/nebulizers.

[0017] Preferred applications are intravenous, intramuscular, or oral administrations as well as eye drops. The dosage used depends upon the type of the specific active ingredient, the age and the requirements of the patient and the kind of application. Generally, dosages of 0.1-50 mg/kg body weight per day are considered. The preparations with compounds can contain inert or as well pharmacodynamically active excipients. Tablets or granules, for example, could contain a number of binding agents, filling excipients, carrier substances or diluents.

[0018] The present invention relates to arylethene-sulfonamides of the general formula I,

[0019] wherein

[0020] R¹ and R² represent aryl; heteroaryl;

[0021] R³ represents phenyl; mono-, di- or tri-substituted phenyl substituted with lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, phenyl, lower alkyloxy, amino, lower alkylamino, amino-lower alkyl, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, halogen, lower alkylthio, hydroxy, hydroxy-lower alkyl, cyano, carboxyl, lower alkanoyl, formyl; benzofuranyl; aryl; heteroaryl;

[0022] R⁴ represents hydrogen; halogen; trifluoromethyl; lower alkyl; lower alkyl-amino; lower alkyloxy; lower alkyl-sulfono; lower alkyl-sulfinyl; lower alkylthio; lower alkylthio-lower alkyl; hydroxy-lower alkyl; lower alkyl-oxy-lower alkyl; hydroxy-lower alkyl-oxy-lower alkyl; hydroxy-lower alkyl-amino; lower alkyl-amino-lower alkyl; amino; di-lower alkyl-amino; [N-(hydroxy-lower alkyl)-N-(lower alkyl)]-amino; aryl; aryl-amino; aryl-lower alkyl-amino; aryl-thio; aryl-lower alkyl-thio; aryloxy; aryl-lower alkyl-oxy; aryl-lower alkyl; aryl-sulfinyl; heteroaryl; heteroaryl-oxy; heteroaryl-lower alkyl-oxy; heteroaryl-amino; heteroaryl-lower alkyl-amino; heteroaryl-thio; heteroaryl-lower alkyl-thio; heteroaryl-lower alkyl; heteroaryl-sulfinyl; heterocyclyl; heterocyclyl-lower alkyl-oxy; heterocyclyl-oxy; heterocyclyl-amino; heterocyclyl-lower alkyl-amino; heterocyclyl-thio; heterocyclyl-lower alkyl-thio; heterocyclyl-lower alkyl; heterocyclyl-sulfinyl; cycloalkyl; cycloalkyl-oxy; cycloalkyl-lower alkyl-oxy; cycloalkyl-amino; cycloalkyl-lower alkyl-amino; cycloalkyl-thio; cycloalkyl-lower alkyl-thio; cycloalkyl-lower alkyl; cycloalkyl-sulfinyl;

[0023] R⁵ and R⁶ represent hydrogen or lower alkyl and may be the same or different;

[0024] X represents oxygen; sulfur; NH; CH₂ or a bond;

[0025] Y represents oxygen; sulfur or —NH—;

[0026] Z represents oxygen; sulfur, —NH— or a bond;

[0027] Q represents —(CH₂)_(n)—; —(CH₂)_(m)—C≡C—(CH₂)_(p)—, in case p represents the whole number O, Z represents a bond; —CH₂-cyclopropylen-CH₂—;

[0028] n represents the whole numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6;

[0029] m represents the whole numbers 1, 2 or 3;

[0030] p represents the whole numbers 0, 1, 2 or 3;

[0031] and pure diastereomers, mixtures of diastereomers, diastereomeric racemates, mixtures of diastereomeric racemates and the meso-forms and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

[0032] In the definitions of the general formula I—if not otherwise stated—the expression lower means straight and branched chain groups with one to seven carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Examples of lower alkyl and lower alkoxy groups are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec.-butyl, tert.-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, iso-butoxy, sec.-butoxy and tert.-butoxy. Lower alkylendioxy-groups are preferably methylen-dioxy, ethylen-dioxy, propylen-dioxy and butylen-dioxy groups. Examples of lower alkanoyl-groups are acetyl, propanoyl and butanoyl. Lower alkenylen means e.g. vinylen, propenylen and butenylen. Lower alkenyl and lower alkynyl means groups like ethylen, propylen, butylen, 2-methyl-propenyl, and ethinylen, propinylen, butinylen, pentinylen, 2-methyl-pentinylen etc. Lower alkenyloxy means allyloxy, vinyloxy, propenyloxy and the like. The expression cycloalkyl means a saturated cyclic hydrocarbon ring with 3 to 7 carbon atoms, e.g. cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl and cycloheptyl, which may be substituted with lower alkyl, hydroxy-lower alkyl, amino-lower alkyl, lower alkoxy-lower alkyl and lower alkenylen groups. The expression heterocyclyl means saturated or unsaturated ( but not aromatic ) four, five-, six- or seven-membered rings containing one or two nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur atoms which may be the same or different and which rings may be adequatly substituted with lower alkyl, amino, nitro, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, e.g. piperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperazinyl, tetrahydropyranyl, dihydropyranyl, 1,4-dioxanyl, pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, dihydropyrrolyl, dihydroimidazolyl, dihydropyrazolyl, pyrazolidinyl, 5-oxo-1,2,4-oxadiazolyl, 5-oxo-1,2,4-thiadiazolyl, 5-thioxo-1,2,4-oxadiazolyl, 2-oxo-1,2,3,5-oxathiadiazolyl etc. and substituted derivatives of such rings with substituents as outlined above. The expression heteroaryl means six-membered aromatic rings containing one to four nitrogen atoms, benzofused six-membered aromatic rings containing one to three nitrogen atoms, five-membered aromatic rings containing one oxygen or one nitrogen or one sulfur atom, benzo-fused five-membered aromatic rings containing one oxygen or one nitrogen or one sulfur atom, five membered aromatic rings containig an oxygen and nitrogen atom and benzo fused derivatives thereof, five membred aromatic rings containing a sulfur and a nitrogen atom and benzo fused derivatives thereof, five-membered aromatic rings containing two nitrogen atoms and benzo fused derivatives thereof, five membered aromatic rings containing three nitrogen atoms and benzo fused derivatives thereof or the tetrazolyl ring; e.g. furanyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, indolyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, imidazolyl, triazinyl, thiazinyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyridazinyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, triazinyl, thiazinyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyridazinyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl etc. whereby such rings may be substituted with lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, amino, amino-lower alkyl, halogen, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethyl, carboxyl, carboxamidyl, thioamidyl, amidinyl, lower alkyl-methanoylate, cyano, hydroxy-lower alkyl, lower alkyl-oxy-lower alkyl or another heteroaryl- (preferrably tetrazolyl) or heterocyclyl-ring (preferrably 5-oxo-1,2,4-oxadiazolyl, 5-oxo-1,2,4-triazolyl, 5-oxo-1,2,4-thiadiazolyl, 5-thioxo-1,2,4-oxadiazolyl or 2-oxo-1,2,3,5-oxathiadiazolyl). The expression aryl represents unsubstituted as well as mono-, di- or tri-substituted aromatic rings with 6 to 10 carbon atoms like phenyl or naphthyl rings which may be substituted with aryl, halogen, hydroxy, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkenyloxy, lower alkynyl-lower alkyl-oxy, lower alkenylen, lower alkylenoxy, lower alkylenoxy or lower alkylendioxy forming with the phenyl ring a five- or six-membered ring, hydroxy-lower alkyl, hydroxy-lower alkenyl, hydroxy-lower alkyl-lower alkynyl, lower alkyloxy-lower alkyl, lower alkyloxy-lower alkyloxy, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, cycloalkyl, hydroxy-cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl.

[0033] In the compounds of the present invention, there are geometrical isomers such as cis- and trans-compounds [or (E)- and (Z)-compounds] possible due to double bonds present in the compounds covered by general formula I. The present invention covers each of the separated isomers [(E)- or (Z)-compound], as well as mixtures of both isomers in any ratio. In the present invention the compounds according to general formula I, in which the groups R⁵ and R⁶ are in trans-configuration are especially preferred.

[0034] Especially preferred compounds are compounds of general formula I wherein R³ represents phenyl or mono-substituted phenyl substituted with lower alkyloxy, especially methoxy and X represents oxygen.

[0035] A second group of especially preferred compounds of general formula I are the compounds wherein R³ represents phenyl or mono-substituted phenyl substituted with lower alkoxy, especially methoxy and X, Y and Z represent oxygen.

[0036] A third group of especially preferred compounds of general formula I are the compounds wherein R³ represents phenyl or mono-substituted phenyl substituted with lower alkoxy, especially methoxy, X, Y and Z represent oxygen and Q represents —(CH₂)_(n)— with n=2 or 3.

[0037] A fourth group of especially preferred compounds of general formula I are the compounds wherein R³ represents di-substituted phenyl substituted with one halogen and one lower alkoxy-group, especially one methoxy-group,,X, Y and Z represent oxygen and Q represents—(CH₂)_(n)— with n=2 or 3.

[0038] A fifth group of especially preferred compounds of general formula I are the compounds wherein R³ represents or mono- or di-substituted phenyl substituted with a chlorine atom and/or lower alkoxy, especially methoxy, X, Y and Z represent oxygen, Q represents —(CH₂)_(n)— with n=2 or 3 and R² represents heteroaryl.

[0039] The expression pharmaceutically acceptable salts encompasses either salts with inorganic acids or organic acids like hydrohalogenic acids, e.g. hydrochloric or hydrobromic acid; sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, citric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, maleic acid, tartaric acid, methylsulfonic acid, p-toluolsulfonic acid and the like or in case the compound of formula I is acidic in nature with an inorganic base like an alkali or earth alkali base, e.g. sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide etc. The compounds of the general formula I might have one or more asymmetric carbon atoms and may be prepared in form of optically pure enantiomers or diastereomers, mixtures of enantiomers or diastereomers, diastereomeric racemates, mixtures of diastereomeric racemates and also in the meso-form. The present invention encompasses all these forms. Mixtures may be separated in a manner known per se, i.e. by column chromatography, thin layer chromatography, HPLC, crystallization etc.

[0040] Because of their ability to inhibit the endothelin binding, the described compounds of the general formula I and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts may be used for treatment of diseases which are associated with an increase in vasoconstriction, proliferation or inflammation due to endothelin. Examples of such diseases are hypertension, coronary diseases, cardiac insufficiency, renal and myocardial ischemia, renal failure, cerebral ischemia, dementia, migraine, subarachnoidal hemorrhage, Raynaud's syndrome, portal hypertension and pulmonary hypertension. They can also be used for treatment of atherosclerosis, prevention of restenosis after balloon or stent angioplasty, inflammation, stomach and duodenal ulcer, cancer, prostatic hypertrophy, erectile dysfunction, hearing loss, amaurosis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, gram negative septicemia, shock, sickle cell anemia, glomerulonephritis, renal colic, glaucoma, therapy and prophylaxis of diabetic complications, complications of vascular or cardiac surgery or after organ transplantation, complications of cyclosporin treatment, pain, as well as other diseases presently known to be related to endothelin.

[0041] These compositions may be administered in enteral or oral form e.g. as tablets, dragees, gelatine capsules, emulsions, solutions or suspensions, in nasal form like sprays or rectally in form of suppositories. These compounds may also be administered in intramuscular, parenteral or intravenous form, e.g. in form of injectable solutions.

[0042] These pharmaceutical compositions may contain the compounds of formula I as well as their pharmaceutically acceptable salts in combination with inorganic and/or organic excipients which are usual in the pharmaceutical industry like lactose, maize or derivatives thereof, talcum, stearinic acid or salts of these materials.

[0043] For gelatine capsules vegetable oils, waxes, fats, liquid or half-liquid polyols etc. may be used. For the preparation of solutions and sirups e.g. water, polyols, saccharose, glucose etc. are used. Injectables are prepared by using e.g. water, polyols, alcohols, glycerin, vegetable oils, lecithin, liposomes etc. Suppositories are prepared by using natural or hydrogenated oils, waxes, fatty acids (fats), liquid or half-liquid polyols etc.

[0044] The compositions may contain in addition preservatives, stabilisation improving substances, viscosity improving or regulating substances, solubility improving substances, sweeteners, dyes, taste improving compounds, salts to change the osmotic pressure, buffer, anti-oxidants etc.

[0045] The compounds of formula I may also be used in combination with one or more other therapeutically useful substances e.g. α- and β-blockers like phentolamine, phenoxybenzamine, atenolol, propranolol, timolol, metoprolol, carteolol etc.; Vasodilators like hydralazine, minoxidil, diazoxide, flosequinan etc.; Calcium-antagonists like diltiazem, nicardipine, nimodipine, verapamil, nifedipine etc.; ACE-inhibitors like cilazapril, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril etc.; Potassium activators like pinacidil etc.; Angiotensin II antagonists; Diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide, chlorothiazide, acetolamide, bumetanide, furosemide, metolazone, chlortalidone etc.; Sympatholitics like methyldopa, clonidine, guanabenz, reserpine etc.; and other therapeutics which serve to treat high blood pressure or any cardiac disorders.

[0046] The dosage may vary within wide limits but should be adapted to the specific situation. In general the dosage given daily in oral form should be between about 3 mg and about 3 g, preferably between about 10 mg and about 1 g, especially preferred between 5 mg and 300 mg, per adult with a body weight of about 70 kg. The dosage should be administered preferably in 1 to 3 doses per day which are of equal weight. As usual children should receive lower doses which are adapted to body weight and age.

[0047] Preferred compounds are compounds of formula II

[0048] wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, Y, Q and Z are as defined in general formula I above,

[0049] and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of formula II.

[0050] Also preferred are compounds of formula III

[0051] wherein R¹, R², R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, Y, Q and Z are as defined in general formula I above and T represents a chlorine-, a bromine- or a hydrogen-atom or a methyl group or a methoxy group, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of formula III.

[0052] Also preferred are compounds of formula IV

[0053] wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴ and Q are as defined in general formula I above, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of formula IV.

[0054] Another especially preferred group of compounds are compounds of formula V

[0055] wherein R¹ and R² are as defined in general formula I above, and T represents a chlorine-, a bromine- or a hydrogen-atom or a methyl group or a methoxy group, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

[0056] Especially preferred compounds among the group of compounds of formula V are those wherein R² represents heteroaryl.

[0057] Preferred compounds are:

[0058] 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide;

[0059] 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {5-(4-bromo-phenyl)-6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide;

[0060] 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-phenyl-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide;

[0061] 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(5-chloro-pyrimid in-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide;

[0062] 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(4-bromo-phenoxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide;

[0063] 2-Thiophen-3-yl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide;

[0064] 2-Thiophen-2-yl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide;

[0065] 2-Thiophen-2-yl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-[2,2′]bipyrimidinyl-4-yl}-amide;

[0066] 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-[2,2′]bipyrimidinyl-4-yl}-amide;

[0067] 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide;

[0068] 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-(3-methoxy-phenoxy)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide;

[0069] 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)-2-pyrazin-2-yl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide;

[0070] 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)-2-morpholin-4-yl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide;

[0071] 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {5-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)-2-morpholin-4-yl-6-[2-(5-trifluoromethyl-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide;

[0072] 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {5-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)-6-[2-(pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-[2,2′]bipyrimidinyl-4-yl}-amide;

[0073] 2-Thiophen-2-yl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)-[2,2′]bipyrimidinyl-4-yl]-amide;

[0074] 2-Thiophen-2-yl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)-2-pyridin-4-yl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide;

[0075] 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-(2-chloro-5-methoxy-phenoxy)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide;

[0076] and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

[0077] Especially preferred compounds are:

[0078] 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-(4-chloro-phenyl)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide;

[0079] 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-2-pyridin-4-yl-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidi n-4-yl}-amide;

[0080] and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

[0081] Compounds of the general formula I of the present invention can be prepared according to the general sequence of reactions outlined below. For simplicity and clarity reasons sometimes only parts of the synthetic possibilities which lead to compounds of general formula I are described. The literature references given in brackets [ ] are set forth at the end of this paragraph.

[0082] Possibility A

[0083] The desired compounds of general formula I can be prepared by reacting a compound of the formula 1:

[0084] wherein G¹ is a reactive residue, preferentially a chloro atom, and the other symbols are as defined in general formula I above, with a compound of the formula 2:

[0085] wherein the symbols are the same as defined in general formula I above, or a salt thereof.

[0086] Possibility B

[0087] The compounds of general formula I may also be prepared by reacting a compound of formula 3:

[0088] wherein the symbols are the same as defined in general formula I above, or a salt thereof, with a compound of the formula 4;

[0089] wherein G² is a reactive residue, preferentially a halogen atom, and the other symbol is the same as defined in genral formula I above.

[0090] Possibility C

[0091] The compounds of general formula I may also be prepared by reacting a compound of the formula 5:

[0092] Wherein G³ is a lower alkylsulfonyl group or a phenylsulfonyl group or a halogen atom, and the other symbols are the same as described in general formula I above, or a salt thereof, with a compound of the formula 6:

[0093] wherein R⁴ is the same as defined in general formula I above, or a salt thereof.

[0094] For possibilities A to C see also [5]

[0095] Scheme1: Preparation of the Precursors 1 and 3, with X, Y and Z Representing Oxygen:

[0096] The amidines 8 were synthesized applying standard methodology [1] by reaction of the appropriate nitrile 7 either with sodium methylate in methanol followed by addition of ammonium chloride or by reaction with lithium hexamethyldisilazane followed by addidion of hydrochloric acid in i-propanol. The 2-substituted malonic esters 10 were prepared according to published procedures [2] by reacting dimethylchloromalonate (9) with the appropriate alcohol 11 in acetone and potassium carbonate as base. The compounds 10 were dissolved in methanol and sodium methylate was added and stirring was continued for about 30 min followed by the addition of an amidine derivative 8. Stirring at ambient temperature was continued for another 8 h. After acidic work up the 4,6-dihydroxypyrimidines 12 could be isolated in yields of 70 to 90% [2]. Compounds 12 or the tautomeric form thereof were transformed into the dichloro derivatives 13 with phosphorous oxychloride in the presence of N,N-dimethylaniline at elevated temperatures (60-120° C.) in yields of 40 to 75% [3]. In some cases better yields were obtained by addition of PCI₅ or benzyl-triethylammoniumchloride. The dichlorides 13 were reacted with an excess of the appropriate sulfonamide potassium salt 15 (prepared according to standard methodology from the sulfochlorides 14) in DMSO at room temperature to give the pyrimidines 16 in yields of 70 to 90% either after recrystallization from ethyl acetate/diethylether or chromatography through silica gel with ethyl acetate/heptane. The pyrimidine derivatives 16 are the central intermediates which can be transformed to the desired final products of general formula I either by applying procedures outlined under Possibility A or they can be transformed to the derivatives 18 by reaction with a di-hydroxy-compound represented by formula 17 in the presence of a base like sodium hydride in a solvent like THF at 50-80° C. and then transformed to final compounds according to the general formula I by applying procedures outlined under Possibility B above.

[0097] For further experimental descriptions see [1], [2], [3], [6].

[0098] The synthesis of compounds with X, Y or Z being another group than oxygen, can be carried out in analogous procedures.

[0099] For further experimental descriptions see [1], [2], [3], [5], [6]. For the substitution of the sulfono-group, see [5].

[0100] The synthesis of compounds with X, Y or Z being another group than oxygen, can be carried out in analogous procedures.

[0101] In the schemes 1 to 3 the symbols represent the same as defined in general formula I above.

[0102] According to procedures described in the literature [11]-[13] the heteroaryl ethenylsufonamide derivatives 32 to 34 were prepared. The key step in this sequence is the palladium catalyzed coupling of vinylsulfonamide with the respective heteroaryl bromide. (In principle it is also possible to prepare the aryl ethenylsulfonamides via this procedure)

[0103] According to procedures described in the literature [14-19], the substituted aryl ethenyl sulfonamides 35 to 38 were prepared. Other derivatives could be prepared from the respective styrene precursors.

[0104] [1] W. Gohring, J. Schildknecht, M. Federspiel; Chimia, 1996, 50, 538-543.

[0105] [2] W. Neidhart, V. Breu, D. Bur, K. Burri, M. Clozel, G. Hirth, M. Muller, H. P. Wessel, H. Ramuz; Chimia, 1996, 50, 519-524 and references cited there.

[0106] [3] W. Neidhart, V. Breu, K. Burri, M. Clozel, G. Hirth, U. Klinkhammer, T. Giller, H. Ramuz; Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 1997, 7, 2223-2228. R. A. Nugent, S. T. Schlachter, M. J. Murphy, G. J. Cleek, T. J. Poel, D. G. Whishka, D. R. Graber, Y. Yagi, B. J. Keiser, R. A. Olmsted, L. A. Kopta, S. M. Swaney, S. M. Poppe, J. Morris, W. G. Tarpley, R. C. Thomas; J. Med. Chem., 1998, 41, 3793-3803.

[0107] [4] J. March; Advanced Organic Chemistry, 4^(th) Ed., 1994, p. 499 and references cited there.

[0108] [5] EP 0 743 307 Al; EP 0 658 548 B1; EP 0 959 072 A1 (Tanabe Seiyaku)

[0109] [6] EP 0 633 259 B1; EP 0 526 708 A1; WO 96/19459 (F. Hoffmann-LaRoche)

[0110] [7] for the Synthesis of 5-membered heterocycles see: Y. Kohara et al; J. Med. Chem., 1996, 39, 5228-5235 and references cited there.

[0111] [8] EP 0 882 719 A1 (Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd).

[0112] [9] WO 00/52007 (F. Hoffmann-LaRoche AG).

[0113] [10] WO 00/42035 (F. Hoffmann-LaRoche AG).

[0114] [11] ????; Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr.; 1981, 71.

[0115] [12] ????; J. Org. Chem.; 1958, 23, 729.

[0116] [13] ????; Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn.; 1991, 64,1431.

[0117] [14] M. V. Ramana Reddy et al.; Phosphorous, Sulfur and Silicon; 1990, 53, 285-290.

[0118] [15] S. S. Arogba; Organic Preparations and Procedures Int., 1991, 23(5), 639-643.

[0119] [16] D. Bhaskar Reddy et al.; Phosphorous, Sulfur and Silicon; 1993, 84, 63-71.

[0120] [17] M. Kameyama et al.; Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn.; 1988, 61, 1231 -1235.

[0121] [18] B. M. Culbertson et al.; J. Chem. Soc. (C), 1968, 992-993.

[0122] [19] D. Bhaskar Reddy et al.; Indian J. Chem.; 1995, 34B, 816-822.

[0123] [20] J. M. Fox, X. Huang, A. Chieffi, S. L. Buchwald; J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 2000, 122,1360-1370.

REFERENTIAL EXAMPLES (SYNTHESIS OF PRECURSORS)

[0124] The following compounds were prepared according to the procedure described above and shown in Schemes 1 to 3. All compounds were characterized by 1 H-NMR (300 MHz) and occasionally by 13C-NMR (75 MHz) (Varian Oxford,) 300 MHz; chemical shifts are given in ppm relative to the solvent used; multiplicities: s=singlet, d=doublet, t=triplet; m=multiplet), by LC-MS (Waters Micromass; ZMD-platform with ESI-probe with Alliance 2790 HT; Colum: 2×30 mm, Gromsil ODS4, 3 μm, 120 A; Gradient: 0-100% acetonitril in water, 6 min, with 0.05% formic acid, flow: 0.45 ml/min; t_(R) is given in min.), by TLC (TLC-plates from Merck, Silica gel 60 F₂₅₄) and occasionally by melting point.

[0125] The following Referential Examples illustrate the invention but do not at all limit is the scope thereof. All temperatures are stated in ° C.

Referential Example 1

[0126]

[0127] a) To a mixture of 1,2-dimethoxyethan (15 ml) and ethyleneglycol (40 ml) was added sodium (298 mg) in small portions. The mixture was stirred until the sodium was completely dissolved. Then DMF (15 ml), followed by 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid(6-chloro-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-amide (1.0 g) was added. Stirring was continued for 4 days at 100° C. The mixture was evaporated and water (150 ml) was added to the residue followed by addition of acetic acid (1.0 ml). The precipitate was filtered off, washed with water and dried. The crude material was purified by chromatography over silicagel with EtOAc/methanol/aqueous ammonia (25%)=4/1/0.5 to give 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid[6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide (500 mg). t_(R)=4.54 (LC); M⁺=412.38 (ES+).

[0128] b) To 4,6-dichloro-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidine (2.0 g) disolved in DMSO (35 ml) was added di-isopropyl-ethyl-amine (1.46 ml) followed by 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonamide potassium salt (2.78 g). The mixture was stirred for 48 h at rt then poured onto water (500 ml) and diethylether (250 ml) was added and the solution was stirred for 30 minutes. The layers were separated and the water layer was acidified with acetic acid (2.0 ml) and cooled to 0° C. for 1 h. The precipitated product was filtered off and washed with water and diethylether and dried to give 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid(6-chloro-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-amide (2.02 g). t_(R)=5.32 (LC); M⁺=386.23 (ES+); M⁻=384.22 (ES−).

[0129] c) To 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonylchloride (10 g, commercially available from Aldrich) in THF (115 ml) was slowly added aqueous ammonia (25%) at 0° C. followed by stirring at rt for 30 min. The solvent was evaporated, the residue dissolved in EtOAc and washed with water (3×). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up in methanol (55 ml) and potassium tert.-butoxide (4.88 g) was added in portions. Stirring was continued for 30 min, the solvent was evaporated and the residue was dried to give 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonamide potassium salt (9.65 g). 1H-NMR (d6-DMSO): 7.7(m, 2H); 7.4(m, 3H); 7.3(d, 1 H); 7.2(d, 1H); 7.05(s, 2H, NH₂).

[0130] d) 5-p-tolyl-pyrimidine-4,6-diol (17.2 g) was dissolved in phosphorus oxy chloride (250 ml) and N,N-dimethylaniline (25 ml) was added. The mixture was stirred at 70° C. for 16 h, then concentrated in vacuo. The residue was poured onto ice-water and extracted with diethylether (3×). The combined organic extracts were washed with 1N hydrochloric acid and with saturated sodium chloride solution, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and the filtrate was evaporated. The crude brown material was recrystallized from i-propanol to give 4,6-dichloro-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidine (13.5 g). 1H-NMR (CDCl₃): 8.78(s, 1H); 7.35(d, 2H); 7.20(d, 2H); 2.41 (s, 3H).

[0131] e) Sodium methylate (17 g) was dissolved in methanol (600 ml) at 0° C. 2-p-Tolyl-malonic acid diethyl ester (24.5 ml, commercially available from Aldrich), dissolved in 150 ml methanol, was added within 30 min. Stirring was continued for 1 h while slowly warming the mixture to rt. Formamidine hydrochloride (9.9 g, commercially available from Fluka) was added and stirring was continued for 16 h. The solvent was evaporated and 2 M hydrochloric acid (200 ml) was added to the residue followed by slow addition of 10 M sodium hydroxide to adjust the pH to 5. The precipitated product was filtered off and washed subsequently with water and diethylether and dried to give 5-p-tolyl-pyrimidine-4,6-diol (17.7 g). 1H-NMR (d6-DMSO): 8.0(s, 1H); 7.4(d, 2H); 7.1(d, 2H); 2.25(s, 3H).

Referential Example 2

[0132]

[0133] According to the procedure described in Referential Example 1a) 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-(3-hydroxy-propoxy)-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide was prepared. t_(R)=4.58 (LC); [M−H]⁺=424.10 (ES−).

Referential Example 3

[0134]

[0135] According to the procedure described in Referential Example 1a) 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-(4-hydroxy-butoxy)-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide was prepared. t_(R)=4.66 (LC); [M+H]⁺=437.99 (ES+).

Referential Example 4

[0136]

[0137] a) According to the procedure described in Referential Example 1a) 2-Thiophen-2-yl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide was prepared. t_(R)=4.36 (LC); [M+H]⁺=418.15 (ES+).

[0138] b) According to the procedure described in Referential Example 1b), 2-thiophen-2-yl-ethenesulfonic acid (6-chloro-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-amide was prepared from 4,6-dichloro-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidine and thiophen-2-yl-ethenesulfonic acid amide potassium salt. t_(R)=5.05 (LC); [M+H]⁺=392.11 (ES+).

[0139] 2-Thiophen-2-yl-ethenesulfonic acid amide was prepared according to procedures described in the literature [11], [12], [13].

Referential Example 5

[0140]

[0141] a) According to the procedure described in Referential Example 1a), 2-thiophen-2-yl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-5-p-tolyl-[2,2′]bipyri-midinyl-4-yl]-amide was prepared. t_(R)=4.39 (LC); [M+H]⁺=496.16 (ES+).

[0142] b) According to the procedure described in Referential Example 1b, 2-thiophen-2-yl-ethenesulfonic acid (6-chloro-5-p-tolyl-[2,2′]bipyrimidinyl-4-yl)-amide was prepared from 4,6-dichloro-5-p-tolyl-[2,2′]bipyrimidinyl and 2-thiophen-2-yl-ethenesulfonic acid amide potassium salt. t_(R)=4.84 (LC); [M+H]⁺=470.00.

[0143] c) Accoridng to the procedure described in Referential Example 1c), 4,6-dichloro-5-p-tolyl-[2,2′]bipyrimidinyl was prepared. t^(R)=4.42 (LC); [M+H]⁺=317.08.

[0144] d) According to the procedure described in Referential Example 1d), 5-p-tolyl-[2,2′]bipyrimidinyl-4,6-diol was prepared. t_(R)=3.38 (LC); [M+H]⁺=281.08.

Referential Example 6

[0145]

[0146] According to procedures described in the synthetic sequence in Referential Example 1a-e, by using isonicotinamidine hydrochloride instead of formamidine hydrochloride in the first step of the synthesis, 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-2-pyridin-4-yl-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide was prepared. t_(R)=4.36 (LC); [M+H]⁺=489.39.

Referential Example 7

[0147]

[0148] According to procedures described in the synthetic sequence in Referential Example 1a-e, by using cyclopropylformamidine hydrochloride instead of formamidine hydrochloride in the first step of the synthesis, 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid-[2-cyclopropyl-6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide was prepared. t_(R)=5.12 (LC); [M−H]⁺=450.12 (ES−).

Referential Example 8

[0149]

[0150] According to procedures described in the synthetic sequence in Referential Example 1a-e, by using morpholinoformamidine hydrochloride instead of formamidine hydrochloride in the first step of the synthesis, 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-2-morpholin-4-yl-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide was prepared. t_(R)=4.91 (LC); [M+H]⁺=497.46 (ES+).

Referential Example 9

[0151]

[0152] According to procedures described in the synthetic sequence in Referential Example 1a-e, by using pyrazinylformamidine hydrochloride instead of formamidine hydrochloride in the first step of the synthesis, 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-2-pyrazin-2-yl-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide was prepared. t_(R)=4.59 (LC); [M+H]⁺=490.31 (ES+).

Referential Example 10

[0153]

[0154] According to procedures described in the synthetic sequence in Referential Example 1 a-e, by using pyrimidin-2-yl-formamidine hydrochloride instead of formamidine hydrochloride in the first step of the synthesis, 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-5-p-tolyl-[2,2′]bipyrimidinyl-4-yl]-amide was prepared. t_(R)=4.51 (LC); [M+H]⁺=490.34 (ES+).

Referential Example 11

[0155]

[0156] a) 6.20 g of 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-chloro-5-(4-chloro-phenyl)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide was added to a solution of 7.65 g of potassium-tert.-butylate in 100 ml of ethylene glycol. The resulting solution was heated to 110° C. and stirred for 17 h. The ethylene glycol was evaporated under high vacuum and the remaining residue was treated with 250 ml of cold water. The suspension was acidified by adding 10 g of citric acid monohydrate and stirred at 0° C. for 15 min. The precipitate was collected, washed with water and dried to give 6.71 g of 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [5-(4-chloro-phenyl)-6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide as a white powder. LC-MS: t_(R)=4.55 min, [M+H]⁺=432.00 (ES+), [M−H]⁻=429.98 (ES−).

[0157] b) A solution of 6.50 g of 4,6-dichloro-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-pyrimidine and 9.43 g of 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonamide potassium salt (Referential Example 1c) in 50 ml of DMSO and 4.4 ml of diisopropyl-ethylamine was stirred at rt for 65 h. The mixture was diluted with 500 ml of water and 250 ml of diethyl ether and was vigorously stirred for 15 min. The suspension was acidified by adding 8.5 g of citric acid monohydrate and stirring was continued at 5° C. for 30 min. The precipitate was collected and washed with water. The crude product was crystallised from 2-propanol at 2-3° C. The crystals were collected, washed with cold 2-propanol and dried to give 6.23 g of 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-chloro-5-(4-chloro-phenyl)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide as a white powder. LC-MS: t_(R)=5.24 min, [M+H]⁺=405.89 (ES+), [M−H]⁻=403.92 (ES−).

[0158] c) To a suspension of 16.44 g of 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-pyrimidine-4,6-diol in 165 ml of POCl₃ was carefully added 16.5 ml of N,N-dimethylaniline. The mixture was refluxed for 1.5 h. The dark green solution was evaporated and the residue was poured onto ice/water. The suspension was diluted with 200 ml 2 N HCl and water to about 1000 ml and stirred at 2° C. for 1 h. The precipitate was collected, washed with water and dried to give 18.66 g of 4,6-dichloro-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-pyrimidine as a slightly green powder.

[0159] d) A solution of 18.90 g of 2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-malonic acid dimethyl ester in 200 ml of methanol was added dropwise at 0° C. to a solution of 14.60 g sodium methylate in 150 ml of methanol. The mixture was stirred for 1 h at 0° C. before 7.66 g of formamidine hydrochloride was added. The suspension was stirred at rt for 20 h. The solvent was removed and the residue was suspended in 200 ml 2 N aq. HCl. The pH of the suspension was carfully adjusted to 4-5 by adding 20 ml of 10 M NaOH, stirring was continued for 30 min. The white precipitate was collected, washed with water and diethyl ether and dried to give 16.44 g of 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-pyrimidine-4,6-diol as a white powder. LC-MS: t_(R)=2.75 min, [M+H]⁺=222.96 (ES+), [M−H]⁻=220.92 (ES−).

[0160] e) At 35° C. a solution of 52 g of 4-chlorophenylacetic acid methyl ester in 170 ml of THF was carefully added over a period of 70 min to a suspension of 15.6 g NaH in 550 ml of dry THF. Stirring was continued for 40 min without heating and the temperature dropped to 29° C. The evolution of gas had stopped before 94.8 ml of dimethylcarbonate was added dropwise while the temperature of the mixture was maintained at 25-28° C. After the evolution of gas had ceased, the mixture was diluted with 200 ml of THF and stirring was continued for 72 h at rt.

[0161] The mixture was carefully acidified with aq. HCl before bulk of the THF was removed in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in 1200 ml of diethyl ether, washed three times with 1 N aq. HCl and once with brine, dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated. The residue formed was collected, washed with diethyl ether and dried to give 42 g of 2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-malonic acid dimethyl ester as white crystals.

Referential Example 12

[0162]

[0163] According to the procedures described in Referential Example 11a-e, by using 4-bromophenylacetic acid methyl ester as the initial starting material, 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [5-(4-bromo-phenyl)-6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide was obtained. LC-MS: t_(R)=4.57 min, [M+H]⁺=478.05 (ES+).

Referential Example 13

[0164]

[0165] According to the procedures described in Referential Example 11a-e, by using 4-methoxyphenylacetic acid methyl ester as the initial starting material, 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [5-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide was obtained. LC-MS: t_(R)=4.29 min, [M+H]⁺=428.20 (ES+).

Referential Example 14

[0166]

[0167] According to the procedures described in Referential Example 11a-d, by using diethyl phenylmalonate as the initial starting material, 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [5-phenyl-6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide was obtained. LC-MS: t_(R)=4.32 min, [M+H]⁺=398.17 (ES+).

Referential Example 15

[0168]

[0169] According to the procedures described in Referential Example 11a-d, by using 4-ethylphenylmalonic acid dimethylester, which can be prepared by methods described in [20], as the initial starting material, 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [5-(4-ethyl-phenyl )-6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide was obtained. LC-MS: t_(R)=4.68 min, [M+H]⁺=426.07 (ES+).

Referential Example 16

[0170] The precursors depicted in Table 3 below can be prepared according to procedures published in the literature [1; 2; 3; 6; 9; 10] and according to methods described in Referential Examples 1 to 15. TABLE 3 Structure: LC-MS:

t_(R) = 5.11 [M + H]⁺ = 484.40

t_(R) = 4.35 [M + H]⁺ = 444.15

t_(R) = 4.66 [M + H]⁺ = 458.20

t_(R) = 4.53 [M + H]⁺ = 478.14

t_(R) = 4.13 [M + H]⁺ = 521.08

t_(R) = 4.38 [M + H]⁺ = 522.40

t_(R) = 4.71 [M + H]⁺ = 529.19

t_(R) = 5.21 [M + H]⁺ = 564.13

t_(R) = 4.53 [M + H]⁺ = 522.30

EXAMPLES

[0171] The following examples illustrate the invention but do not at all limit the scope thereof. All temperatures are stated in ° C. Reactions were checked by TLC and LC-MS. Reaction times can vary from 1 h to several days and reaction temperatures can vary from 20° C. to reflux temperature of THF.

Example 1

[0172]

[0173] To sodium hydride (220 mg, 55-65% in mineral oil) was added THF (35 ml) followed by addition of 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide (250 mg). The mixture was stirred for 1 h at rt. Then 5-bromo-2-chloro-pyrimidine (188 mg) was added and stirring continued for 21 h at 80° C. The solvent was evaporated and diethylether (20 ml) was added to the residue. The precipitate was filtered off and washed with diethylether, dissolved in water and acidified by citric acid. The precipitate was filtered off and the crude material was purified by chromatography over silicagel with hexane/EtOAc=1/1 to give 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide (91 mg); t_(R)=5.39 (LC); [M+H]⁺=570.34 (ES+); [M−H]⁻=568.45 (ES−).

Example 2

[0174]

[0175] To sodium hydride (26 mg, 55-65% in mineral oil) was added THF (10 ml) followed by the addition of 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide (100 mg). The mixture was stirred for 1 h at rt. Then 2-chloro-pyrimidine (46 mg) was added and stirring continued for 19 h at 80° C. The solvent was evaporated and diethylether (20 ml) was added to the residue. The precipitate was filtered off and washed with diethylether, dissolved in water and acidified by citric acid. The precipitate was filtered off and the crude material was purified by chromatography over silicagel with hexane/EtOAc=1/1 to give 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide (23.7 mg); t_(R)=4.85 (LC); [M+H]⁺=490.27 (ES+).

Example 3

[0176]

[0177] Ethyleneglycol-mono-(4-bromo-phenyl)-ether (112 mg) was dissolved in 1,2-dimethoxyethane (5 ml) and potassium tert.-butoxide (50 mg) was added and stirring continued for 1 h, followed by the addition of 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-chloro-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide (100 mg) and stirring was continued at 80° C. for 24 h. The reaction mixture was evaporated to dryness, water (20 ml) was added followed by acidification with 10% citiric acid and extraction with ethyl acetate (2×, 20 ml). The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated. The crude product was recrystallized from 2-propanol and 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(4-bromo-phenoxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide (90 mg) was obtained as a white powder; t_(R)=6.12 (LC); [M−H]⁺=565.75 (ES−).

Example 4

[0178]

[0179] To sodium hydride (65 mg, 55-65% in mineral oil) was added THF (35 ml) followed by the addition of 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide (200 mg). The mixture was stirred for 1 h at rt. Then 2-chloro-pyrazine (114 mg) was added and stirring continued for 18 h at 80° C. The solvent was evaporated and diethylether (20 ml) was added to the residue. The precipitate was filtered off and washed with diethylether, dissolved in water, acidified by citric acid and extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo and the crude material was purified by chromatography over silicagel with hexane/EtOAc=1/1 to give 2-phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(pyrazin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide (86.5 mg); t_(R)=5.13 (LC); [M+H]⁺32 490.21 (ES+).

Example 5

[0180]

[0181] 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide (150 mg) was dissolved in THF (10 ml) and sodium hydride (45 mg; 55 -65% in mineral oil) was added. The mixture was stirred for 15 min at rt., followed by the addition of DMF (2 ml) and 2-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-pyridine (146 mg) and heating to 75° C. for 5 h. Then the reaction mixture was evaporated to dryness and water (15 ml) and citric acid was added. The precipitated product was filtered off, washed with water and dried. 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {5-p-tolyl-6-[2-(5-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide (130 mg) could be obtained as a white powder. t_(R)=5.92 (LC); [M+H]⁺32 557.38 (ES+).

Examples 6-240

[0182] The corresponding starting materials are treated in a manner according to the procedures given in examples 1-5 to give the compounds as listed in Tables 4 -45. TABLE 4 #:Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 6

t_(R) = 6.04 [M + H]⁺:523.22 3 7

t_(R) = 5.55 [M + H]⁺:584.11 1 8

t_(R) = 6.12 [M + H]⁺:582.11 5 9

t_(R) = 5.07 [M + H]⁺:504.20 1 10

t_(R) = 5.22 [M + H]⁺:516.14 1 11

t_(R) = 5.92 [M + H]⁺:569.18 5 12

t_(R) = 5.84 [M + H]⁺:523.22 5

[0183] TABLE 5 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 13

t_(R) = 5.14 [M + H]⁺:502.14 1 14

t_(R) = 5.39 [M + H]⁺:524.23 1 15

t_(R) = 5.16 [M + H]⁺:508.23 1 16

t_(R) = 5.53 [M + H]⁺:529.39 1 17

t_(R) = 5.29 [M + M]⁺:495.29 1 18

t_(R) = 5.01 [M + H]⁺:545.24 1 19

t_(R) = 5.17 [M + H]⁺:518.21 1

[0184] TABLE 6 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 20

t_(R) = 5.75 [M + H]⁺:598.12 1 21

t_(R) = 5.12 [M + H]⁺:520.03 1 22

t_(R) = 5.09 [M + H]⁺:504.23 1 23

t_(R) = 5.60 [M + H]⁺:584.01 1 24

t_(R) = 5.53 [M + H]⁺:539.53 1 25

t_(R) = 5.26 [M + H]⁺:534.21 1 26

t_(R) = 6.03 [M + H]⁺:583.41 5

[0185] TABLE 7 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 27

t_(R) = 5.63 [M + H]⁺:604.31 1 28

t_(R) = 5.30 [M + H]⁺:556.44 1 29

t_(R) = 5.57 [M + H]⁺:559.46 1 30

t_(R) = 5.47 [M + H]⁺:584.39 1 31

t_(R) = 5.43 [M + H]⁺:540.54 1 32

t_(R) = 5.13 [M + H]⁺:534.15 1

[0186] TABLE 8 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS 1π 33

t_(R) = 6.02 [M + H]⁺:598.41 1 34

t_(R) = 5.63 [M + H]⁺:548.26 1 35

t_(R) = 5.96 [M + H]⁺:553.57 1

36

t_(R) = 5.64 [M + H]⁺:583.47 1 37

t_(R) = 5.27 [M + H]⁺:534.19 1 38

t_(R) = 5.59 [M + H]⁺:536.33 1

[0187] TABLE 9 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 39

t_(R) = 5.27 [M + H]⁺:534.18 1 40

t_(R) = 5.65 [M + H]⁺:584.30 1

41

t_(R) = 5.63 [M + H]⁺:584.08 1 42

t_(R) = 5.27 [M + H]⁺:534.28 1

[0188] TABLE 10 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 43

t_(R) = 5.45 [M + H]⁺:590.01 1 44

t_(R) = 4.95 [M + H]⁺:510.19 1 45

t_(R) = 5.88 [M + H]⁺:577.14 5 46

t_(R) = 5.89 [M + H]⁺:588.38 5 47

t_(R) = 5.36 [M + H]⁺:545.4 1 48

t_(R) = 5.15 [M + H]⁺:541.46 1 49

t_(R) = 5.16 [M + H]⁺:525.44 1

[0189] TABLE 11 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS 1 50

t_(R) = 5.18 [M − H]⁺:526.16 1 51

t_(R) = 5.38 [M + H]⁺:555.98 1

52

t_(R) = 5.65 [M + H]⁺:604.26 1 53

t_(R) = 5.29 [M + H]⁺:555.61 1

[0190] TABLE 12 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 54

t_(R) = 5.67 [M + H]⁺:624.20 1 55

t_(R) = 5.34 [M + H]⁺:575.43 1 56

t_(R) = 5.59 [M + H]⁺:579.45 1 57

t_(R) = 5.42 [M + H]⁺:559.50 1

[0191] TABLE 13 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 58

t_(R) = 5.61 [M + H]⁺:603.36 1 59

t_(R) = 5.26 [M + H]⁺:555.53 1 60

t_(R) = 5.55 [M + H]⁺:559.52 1 61

t_(R) = 5.46 [M + H]⁺:559.53 1 62

t_(R) = 5.51 [M + H]⁺:604.33 1 63

t_(R) = 5.16 [M + H]⁺:555.57 1

[0192] TABLE 14 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 64

t_(R) = 4.98 [M + H]⁺:616.51 1 65

t_(R) = 5.35 [M + H]⁺:667.33 1 66

t_(R) = 5.00 [M + H]⁺:601.51 1

[0193] TABLE 15 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 67

t_(R) = 5.34 [M + H]⁺:576.18 1 68

t_(R) = 4.79 [M + H]⁺:496.16 1 69

t_(R) = 5.26 [M + H]⁺:530.32 1 70

t_(R) = 5.79 [M + H]⁺:563.24 5 71

t_(R) = 5.78 [M + H]⁺:574.80 5

[0194] TABLE 16 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R¹⁵ LC-MS # 72

t_(R) = 5.28 [M + H]⁺:653.50 1 73

t_(R) = 5.25 [M + H]⁺:609.35 1 74

t_(R) = 4.93 [M + H]⁺:604.02 1 75

t_(R) = 4.81 [M + H]⁺:588.16 1

[0195] TABLE 17 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 76

t_(R) = 5.98 [M + H]⁺:579.41 3 77

t_(R) = 6.09 [M + H]⁺:645.28 3 78

t_(R) = 5.72 [M + H]⁺:565.22 3 79

t_(R) = 4.82 [M + H]⁺:567.20 1 80

t_(R) = 5.45 [M + H]⁺:647.41 1 81

t_(R) = 5.82 [M + H]⁺:646.07 5 82

t_(R) = 5.83 [M + H]⁺:633.87 5

[0196] TABLE 18 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 83

t_(R) = 4.93 [M + H]⁺:597.26 1 84

t_(R) = 5.21 [M + H]⁺:602.60 1

[0197] TABLE 19 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 85

t_(R) = 5.78 [M − H]⁺:632.25 1 86

t_(R) = 5.33 [M + H]⁺:585.83 1 87

t_(R) = 5.65 [M + H]⁺:589.70 1 88

t_(R) = 5.45 [M + H]⁺:641.33 1 89

t_(R) = 5.39 [M + H]⁺:596.31 1 90

t_(R) =5.09 [M + H]⁺:591.74 1

[0198] TABLE 20 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 91

t_(R) = 4.78 [M + H]⁺:476.23 1 92

t_(R) = 5.30 [M + H]⁺:556.16 1 93

t_(R) = 5.68 [M + H]⁺:543.34 5 94

t_(R) = 5.68 [M + H]⁺:554.95 5 95

t_(R) = 5.30 [M + H]⁺:544.13 1 96

t_(R) = 4.87 [M + H]⁺:506.14 1

[0199] TABLE 21 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 97

t_(R) = 5.14 [M − H]⁺:538.09 1 98

t_(R) = 4.96 [M − H]⁺:508.36 1 99

t_(R) = 5.46 [M + H]⁺:590.22 1

[0200] TABLE 22 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 100

t_(R) = 5.39 [M + H]⁺: 522.30 1 101

t_(R) = 5.95 [M + H]⁺: 602.20 1 102

t_(R) = 6.18 [M − H]⁺: 608.71 5 103

t_(R) = 5.33 [M + H]⁺: 544.21 1 104

t_(R) = 6.03 [M + H]⁺: 633.49 1 105

t_(R) = 5.97 [M + H]⁺: 588.00 1 106

t_(R) = 5.71 [M + H]⁺: 582.35 1

[0201] TABLE 23

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 107

t_(R) = 5.14 [M + H]⁺: 634.06 1 108

t_(R) = 5.02 [M + H]⁺: 589.66 1 109

t_(R) = 5.08 [M + H]⁺: 633.65 1 110

t_(R) = 4.69 [M + H]⁺: 583.04 1 111

t_(R) = 5.06 [M + H]⁺: 634.35 1 112

t_(R) = 4.73 [M + H]⁺: 584.08 1 113

t_(R) = 5.42 [M + H]⁺: 629.77 1

[0202] TABLE 24

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 114

t_(R) = 5.46 [M + H]⁺: 585.59 1 115

t_(R) = 5.25 [M + H]⁺: 629.36 1 116

t_(R) = 6.25 [M + H]⁺: 639.64 1 117

t_(R) = 5.83 [M + H]⁺: 678.29 1

[0203] TABLE 25

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 118

t_(R) = 5.24 [M + H]⁺: 586.07 1 119

t_(R) = 4.94 [M + H]⁺: 536.12 1 120

t_(R) = 5.19 [M + H]⁺: 540.33 1 121

t_(R) = 4.91 [M + H]⁺: 520.49 1 122

t_(R) = 4.73 [M + H]⁺: 506.09 1 123

t_(R) = 5.70 [M + H]⁺: 573.09 5 124

t_(R) = 5.67 [M + H]⁺: 584.89 5

[0204] TABLE 26

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 125

t_(R) = 5.44 [M + H]⁺: 648.30 1 126

t_(R) = 5.11 [M + H]⁺: 598.31 1 127

t_(R) = 5.85 [M + H]⁺: 655.22 1 128

t_(R) = 5.42 [M + H]⁺: 605.26 1 129

t_(R) = 5.33 [M + H]⁺: 575.41 1 130

t_(R) = 6.26 [M + H]⁺: 642.16 131

t_(R) = 6.28 [M + H]⁺: 654.03 5

[0205] TABLE 27

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 132

t_(R) = 6.01 [M + H]⁺: 610.22 1 133

t_(R) = 5.59 [M + H]⁺: 560.25 1 134

t_(R) = 5.92 [M − H]⁺: 562.15 1 135

t_(R) = 5.51 [M + H]⁺: 530.33 1 136

t_(R) = 6.48 [M + H]⁺: 608.32 5 137

t_(R) = 6.44 [M + H]⁺: 597.12 5

[0206] TABLE 28

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 138

t_(R) = 5.66 [M + H]⁺: 583.99 1 139

t_(R) = 5.30 [M + H]⁺: 534.18 1 140

t_(R) = 5.23 [M + H]⁺: 648.19 1 141

t_(R) = 4.85 [M + H]⁺: 568.32 1 142

t_(R) = 5.63 [M + H]⁺: 646.77 5 143

t_(R) = 5.68 [M + H]⁺: 635.30 5 144

t_(R) = 5.02 [M + H]⁺: 598.01 1

[0207] TABLE 29

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 145

t_(R) = 5.28 [M + H]⁺: 653.50 1 146

t_(R) = 4.93 [M + H]⁺: 604.02 1 147

t_(R) = 5.25 [M + H]⁺: 608.35 1 148

t_(R) = 4.81 [M + H]⁺: 588.16 1

[0208] TABLE 30

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 149

t_(R) = 5.14 [M + H]⁺: 680.44 1 150

t_(R) = 4.71 [M + H]⁺: 630.28 1 151

t_(R) = 4.73 [M + H]⁺: 614.10 1 152

t_(R) = 4.65 [M + H]⁺: 600.44 1 153

t_(R) = 5.68 [M + H]⁺: 678.22 3 154

t_(R) = 5.41 [M + H]⁺: 598.40 3 155

t_(R) = 4.96 [M + H]⁺: 634.34 1

[0209] TABLE 31

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 156

t_(R) = 5.21 [M + H]⁺: 713.22 1 157

t_(R) = 4.93 [M + H]⁺: 686.05 1 158

t_(R) = 4.43 [M − H]⁺: 604.09 1

[0210] TABLE 32

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 159

t_(R) = 5.37 [M + H]⁺: 679.43 1 160

t_(R) = 4.74 [M + H]⁺: 629.29 1 161

t_(R) = 4.77 [M + H]⁺: 613.27 1 162

t_(R) = 4.74 [M + H]⁺: 599.61 1 163

t_(R) = 5.88 [M + H]⁺: 677.15 3 164

t_(R) = 5.01 [M + H]⁺: 635.53 1 165

t_(R) = 5.61 [M + H]⁺: 666.22 5

[0211] TABLE 33

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 166

t_(R) = 5.00 [M + H]⁺: 634.49 1 167

t_(R) = 5.24 [M + H]⁺: 667.15 1 168

t_(R) = 5.57 [M + H]⁺: 678.32 5 169

t_(R) = 5.27 [M + H]⁺: 692.74 1 170

t_(R) = 4.75 [M + H]⁺: 613.00 1 171

t_(R) = 5.29 [M + H]⁺: 691.18 1 172

t_(R) = 4.95 [M + H]⁺: 643.14 5

[0212] TABLE 34

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 173

t_(R) = 4.86 [M + H]⁺: 685.03 1 174

t_(R) = 4.47 [M + H]⁺: 605.26 1 175

t_(R) = 5.18 [M + H]⁺: 693.40 1 176

t_(R) = 5.34 [M + H]⁺: 648.62 1 177

t_(R) = 4.99 [M + H]⁺: 643.27 1 178

t_(R) = 4.93 [M + H]⁺: 685.38 1 179

t_(R) = 4.53 [M + H]⁺: 635.10 1

[0213] TABLE 35

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 180

t_(R) = 4.49 [M + H]⁺: 605.06 1 181

t_(R) = 4.78 [M − H]⁺: 636.93 1

[0214] TABLE 36

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 182

t_(R) = 5.38 [M + H]⁺: 679.55 1 183

t_(R) = 4.91 [M + H]⁺: 630.30 1 184

t_(R) = 4.99 [M + H]⁺: 614.36 1 185

t_(R) = 4.86 [M + H]⁺: 600.53 1 186

t_(R) = 5.97 [M + H]⁺: 678.31 3 187

t_(R) = 5.15 [M + H]⁺: 635.52 1 188

t_(R) = 5.69 [M + H]⁺: 667.04 5

[0215] TABLE 37

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 189

t_(R) = 4.93 [M + H]⁺: 600.24 4 190

t_(R) = 5.80 [M + H]⁺: 679.24 5 191

t_(R) = 5.09 [M − H]⁺: 597.21 5 192

t_(R) = 5.30 [M + H]⁺: 668.00 1

[0216] TABLE 38

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 193

t_(R) = 5.84 [M + H]⁺: 687.43 1 194

t_(R) = 5.28 [M + H]⁺: 607.56 1 195

t_(R) = 5.58 [M + H]⁺: 642.98 1 196

t_(R) = 5.36 [M + H]⁺: 625.34 1 197

t_(R) = 5.31 [M + H]⁺: 637.23 1 198

t_(R) = 5.66 [M + H]⁺: 675.29 1 199

t_(R) = 6.05 [M + H]⁺: 674.16 5

[0217] TABLE 39

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 200

t_(R) = 6.08 [M + H]⁺: 685.94 5 201

t_(R) = 5.94 [M + H]⁺: 720.81 1 202

t_(R) = 5.76 [M − H]⁺: 698.38 1 203

t_(R) = 5.42 [M + H]⁺: 651.39 1 204

t_(R) = 5.51 [M + H]⁺: 652.91 1

[0218] TABLE 40

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 205

t_(R) = 6.04 [M + H]⁺: 642.29 1 206

t_(R) = 5.54 [M + H]⁺: 562.48 1 207

t_(R) = 5.64 [M + H]⁺: 576.37 1 208

t_(R) = 5.60 [M + H]⁺: 616.00 1 209

t_(R) = 5.14 [M + H]⁺: 536.45 1 210

t_(R) = 5.88 [M + H]⁺: 722.31 1

[0219] TABLE 41

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 211

t_(R) = 5.35 [M + H]⁺: 601.87 1 212

t_(R) = 4.84 [M + H]⁺: 522.29 1 213

t_(R) = 5.21 [M + H]⁺: 556.23 1 214

t_(R) = 5.25 [M + H]⁺: 607.35 1 215

t_(R) = 4.88 [M + H]⁺: 558.45 1 216

t_(R) = 5.77 [M + H]⁺: 589.04 5 217

t_(R) = 5.84 [M + H]⁺: 601.06 5

[0220] TABLE 42

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 218

t_(R) = 5.46 [M + H]⁺: 615.95 1 219

t_(R) = 5.10 [M + H]⁺: 566.34 1 220

t_(R) = 5.11 [M + H]⁺: 549.82 1 221

t_(R) = 4.88 [M + H]⁺: 541.82 1 222

t_(R) = 5.24 [M + H]⁺: 568.19 1 223

t_(R) = 5.15 [M + H]⁺: 566.23 1 224

t_(R) = 5.45 [M + H]⁺: 616.59 1

[0221] TABLE 43 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 225

t_(R) = 5.34 [M + H]⁺: 635.80 1 226

t_(R) = 5.00 [M + H]⁺: 586.49 1 227

t_(R) = 5.24 [M − H]⁺: 601.44 1 228

t_(R) = 5.16 [M + H]⁺: 713.06 1 229

t_(R) = 4.84 [M + H]⁺: 663.16 1

[0222] TABLE 44 #: Prep. according to Ex:

Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS # 230

t_(R) = 2.15 [M + H]⁺: 602.26 1 231

t_(R) = 4.71 [M + H]⁺: 522.07 1 232

t_(R) = 5.14 [M + H]⁺: 568.20 1 233

t_(R) = 4.90 [M + H]⁺: 552.19 1 234

t_(R) = 5.36 [M + H]⁺: 616.25 1 235

t_(R) = 5.47 [M + H]⁻: 564.14 1

[0223] TABLE 45 #: Prep. according to Ex: Ex. No. R¹ R² LC-MS #

236

t_(R) = 4.99 [M − H]⁺: 677.26 1 237

t_(R) = 4.65 [M + H]⁺: 629.16 1 238

t_(R) = 5.14 [M + H]⁺: 693.08 1 239

t_(R) = 4.81 [M + H]⁺: 643.08 1

240

t_(R) = 5.54 [M + H]⁺: 684.45 1 241

t_(R) = 5.21 [M + H]⁺: 637.28 1

Example 242

[0224] Using methods described in the above Examples and in schemes 1 to 3 and the cited references, the compounds disclosed in Table 46 can be prepared: TABLE 46

R¹: R²: R⁴:

Example 243

[0225] Using methods described in the above Examples and in schemes 1 to 3 and in the cited references, the compounds disclosed in Table 47 can be prepared: TABLE 47

R¹: R²: R⁴:

[0226] List of Abbreviations:

[0227] CyHex cyclohexane

[0228] DCM dichloromethane

[0229] DMF dimethylformamide

[0230] DMSO dimethylsulfoxide

[0231] EA ethyl acetate

[0232] Hex hexane

[0233] HV high vacuum conditions

[0234] MCPBA m-chloroperbenzoic acid

[0235] min minutes

[0236] rt room temperature

[0237] THF tetrahydrofuran

[0238] t_(R) retention time 

1. Compounds of the general formula I

wherein R¹ and R² represent aryl; heteroaryl; R³ represents phenyl; mono-, di- or tri-substituted phenyl substituted with lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, phenyl, lower alkyloxy, amino, lower alkylamino, amino-lower alkyl, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, halogen, lower alkylthio, hydroxy, hydroxy-lower alkyl, cyano, carboxyl, lower alkanoyl, formyl; benzofuranyl; aryl; heteroaryl; R⁴ represents hydrogen; halogen; trifluoromethyl; lower alkyl; lower alkyl-amino; lower alkyloxy; lower alkyl-sulfono; lower alkyl-sulfinyl; lower alkylthio; lower alkylthio-lower alkyl; hydroxy-lower alkyl; lower alkyl-oxy-lower alkyl; hydroxy-lower alkyl-oxy-lower alkyl; hydroxy-lower alkyl-amino; lower alkyl-amino-lower alkyl; amino; di-lower alkyl-amino; [N-(hydroxy-lower alkyl)-N-(lower alkyl)]-amino; aryl; aryl-amino; aryl-lower alkyl-amino; aryi-thio; aryl-lower alkyl-thio; aryloxy; aryl-lower alkyl-oxy; aryl-lower alkyl; aryl-sulfinyl; heteroaryl; heteroaryl-oxy; heteroaryl-lower alkyl-oxy; heteroaryl-amino; heteroaryl-lower alkyl-amino; heteroaryl-thio; heteroaryl-lower alkyl-thio; heteroaryl-lower alkyl; heteroaryl-sulfinyl; heterocyclyl; heterocyclyl-lower alkyl-oxy; heterocyclyl-oxy; heterocyclyl-amino; heterocyclyl-lower alkyl-amino; heterocyclyl-thio; heterocyclyl-lower alkyl-thio; heterocyclyl-lower alkyl; heterocyclyl-sulfinyl; cycloalkyl; cycloalkyl-oxy; cycloalkyl-lower alkyl-oxy; cycloalkyl-amino; cycloalkyl-lower alkyl-amino; cycloalkyl-thio; cycloalkyl-lower alkyl-thio; cycloalkyl-lower alkyl; cycloalkyl-sulfinyl; R⁵ and R⁶ represent hydrogen or lower alkyl and may be the same or different; X represents oxygen; sulfur; NH; CH₂ or a bond; Y represents oxygen; sulfur or —NH—; Z represents oxygen; sulfur, —NH—or a bond; Q represents —(CH₂)_(n)—; —(CH₂)_(m)—C≡C—(CH₂)_(p)—, in case p represents the whole number 0, Z represents a bond; —CH₂-cyclopropylen-CH₂—; n represents the whole numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; m represents the whole numbers 1, 2 or 3; p represents the whole numbers 0, 1, 2 or 3; and pure diastereomers, mixtures of diastereomers, diastereomeric racemates, mixtures of diastereomeric racemates and the meso-forms and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
 2. Compounds of the formula I in claim 1, wherein R¹, R², R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, Q, Y and Z are as defined in general formula I in claim 1, X, represents oxygen and R³ represents phenyl or mono-substituted phenyl substituted with halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkylen, lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkyl-amino, lower alkyl-thio, hydroxy, hydroxymethyl and lower alkanoyl; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of general formula
 1. 3. Compounds of the formula I in claim 1, wherein R¹, R², R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and Q are as defined in general formula I in claim 1, X, Y and Z represent oxygen and R³ represents di-substituted phenyl substituted with halogen and lower alkoxy; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of general formula I .
 4. Compounds of the formula I in claim 1, wherein R¹, R², R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and Q, are as defined in general formula I in claim 1, X, Y and Z represent oxygen and R³ represents mono-substituted phenyl substituted with halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of general formula I.
 5. Compounds of the formula I in claim 1, wherein R¹, R², R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are as defined in general formula I in claim 1, X, Y and Z represent oxygen, Q represents —(CH₂)_(n)— with n=2 and R³ represents phenyl, mono- or di-substituted phenyl substituted with halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of general formula I.
 6. Compounds of the formula I in claim 1, wherein R¹, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are as defined in general formula I in claim 1, X, Y and Z represent oxygen, Q represents —(CH₂)_(n)—with n=2, R² represents heteroaryl and R³ represents phenyl, mono- or di-substituted phenyl substituted with halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of general formula I.
 7. Compounds of formula II

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, Y, Q and Z are as defined in general formula I in claim 1, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of formula II.
 8. Compounds of formula III

wherein R¹, R², R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, Y, Q and Z are as defined in general formula I in claim 1 and T represents a chlorine-, a bromine- or a hydrogen-atom or a methyl group or a methoxy group, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of formula III.
 9. Compounds of the formula IV

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴ and Q are as defined in general formula I in claim 1 and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of formula IV.
 10. Compounds of formula V

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined in general formula I in claim 1 and T represents a chlorine-, a bromine- or a hydrogen-atom or a methyl group or a methoxy group and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
 11. Compounds according to claim 10, wherein R² in formula V represents heteroaryl and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
 12. The compounds according to any one of claims 1 to 11 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide; 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {5-(4-bromo-phenyl)-6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide; 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-phenyl-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide; 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(5-chloro-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide; 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(4-bromo-phenoxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide; 2-Thiophen-3-yl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide; 2-Thiophen-2-yl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide; 2-Thiophen-2-yl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-[2,2′]bipyrimidinyl-4-yl}-amide; 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-p-tolyl-[2,2′]bipyrimidinyl-4-yl}-amide; 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide; 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-(3-methoxy-phenoxy)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide; 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)-2-pyrazin-2-yl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide; 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)-2-morpholin-4-yl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide; 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {5-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)-2-morpholin-4-yl-6-[2-(5-trifluoromethyl-pyrimid in-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-pyrimid in-4-yl}-amide; 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {5-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)-6-[2-(pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-[2,2′]bipyrimidinyl-4-yl}-amide; 2-Thiophen-2-yl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)-[2,2′]bipyrimidinyl-4-yl]-amide; 2-Thiophen-2-yl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)-2-pyridin-4-yl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide; 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-(2-chloro-5-methoxy-phenoxy)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide; 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid [6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimid in-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-5-(4-chloro-phenyl )-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amide; 2-Phenyl-ethenesulfonic acid {6-[2-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-ethoxy]-2-pyridin-4-yl-5-p-tolyl-pyrimidin-4-yl}-amide; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
 13. A compound as described as end-product in any of the examples 1-243.
 14. Pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of disorders which are associated with a role of endothelin, especially circulatory disorders such as hypertension, ischaemia, vasospasm and angina pectoris as well as diabetic complications and proliferative disorders such as cancer, containing a compound of any one of claims 1 to 13 and usual carrier materials and adjuvants.
 15. Pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of disorders which are associated with a role of endothelin, such as migraine, asthma or inflammatory disorders, containing a compound of any one of claims 1 to 13 and usual carrier materials and adjuvants.
 16. The compounds of any one of the claims 1 to 13 for use as medicaments for the treatment of disorders which are associated with a role of endothelin, especially circulatory disorders such as hypertension, ischaemia, vasospasm and angina pectoris, proliferative disorders such as cancer, migraine and inflammatory disorders as well as diabetic complications.
 17. The compounds of any one of the claims 1 to 13 for use as medicaments for the treatment of disorders which are associated with a role of endothelin, and require mixed ET_(A) and ET_(B) blocking for treatment.
 18. The compounds of any one of the claims 1 to 13 for use as medicaments for the treatment of disorders which are associated with a role of endothelin, and require selective ET_(A) blocking for treatment.
 19. The use of one or more compounds of any one of claims 1 to 13 as active ingredients for the production of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of disorders associated with a role of endothelin, especially circulatory disorders such as hypertension, ischaemia, vasospasm and angina pectoris as well as diabetic complications and proliferative disorders such as cancer.
 20. The use of one or more compounds of any one of claims 1 to 13 as active ingredients for the production of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of disorders associated with endothelin activities, such as migraine, asthma or inflammatory disorders.
 21. A process for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of disorders associated with a role of endothelin containing one or more compounds as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 as active ingredients which process comprises mixing one or more active ingredient with pharmaceutically acceptable excipients in a manner known per se.
 22. The invention as hereinbefore described. 